Basic Helicopter Aerodynamics

Basic Helicopter Aerodynamics is widely appreciated as an easily accessible, rounded introduction to the first principles of the aerodynamics of helicopter flight. Simon Newman has brought this third edition completely up to date with a full new set of illustrations and imagery. An accompanying website wiley.com/go/seddon contains all the calculation files used in the book, problems, solutions, PPT slides and supporting MATLAB code. Simon Newman addresses the unique considerations applicable to rotor UAVs and MAVs, and coverage of blade dynamics is expanded to include both flapping, lagging and ground resonance. New material is included on blade tip design, flow characteristics surrounding the rotor in forward flight, tail rotors, brown-out, blade sailing and shipborne operations. Concentrating on the well-known Sikorsky configuration of single main rotor with tail rotor, early chapters deal with the aerodynamics of the rotor in hover, vertical flight, forward flight and climb. Analysis of these motions is developed to the stage of obtaining the principal results for thrust, power and associated quantities. Later chapters turn to the characteristics of the overall helicopter, its performance, stability and control, and the important field of aerodynamic research is discussed, with some reference also to aerodynamic design practice. This introductory level treatment to the aerodynamics of helicopter flight will appeal to aircraft design engineers and undergraduate and graduate students in aircraft design, as well as practising engineers looking for an introduction to or refresher course on the subject.

Basic Helicopter Aerodynamics is widely appreciated as aneasily accessible, rounded introduction to the first principles ofthe aerodynamics of helicopter flight. Simon Newman has broughtthis third edition completely up to date with a full new set ofillustrations and imagery. An accompanying website href="wiley.com/go/seddon">wiley.com/go/seddoncontains all the calculation files used in the book, problemssolutions, PPT slides and supporting MATLAB® code.Simon Newman addresses the unique considerations applicable torotor UAVs and MAVs, and coverage of blade dynamics is expanded toinclude both flapping, lagging and ground resonance. New materialis included on blade tip design, flow characteristics surroundingthe rotor in forward flight, tail rotors, brown-out, blade sailingand shipborne operations.Concentrating on the well-known Sikorsky configuration of singlemain rotor with tail rotor, early chapters deal with theaerodynamics of the rotor in hover, vertical flight, forward flightand climb. Analysis of these motions is developed to the stage ofobtaining the principal results for thrust, power and associatedquantities. Later chapters turn to the characteristics of theoverall helicopter, its performance, stability and control, and theimportant field of aerodynamic research is discussed, with somereference also to aerodynamic design practice.This introductory level treatment to the aerodynamics ofhelicopter flight will appeal to aircraft design engineers andundergraduate and graduate students in aircraft design, as well aspractising engineers looking for an introduction to or refreshercourse on the subject.

About the Authors.Preface to First Edition.Preface to Second Edition.Preface to Third Edition.Notation.Units.Abbreviations.1 Introduction.1.1 Looking Back.References.2 Rotor in Vertical Flight: Momentum Theory and WakeAnalysis.2.1 Momentum Theory for Hover.2.2 Non-dimensionalization.2.3 Figure of Merit.2.4 Axial Flight.2.5 Momentum Theory for Vertical Climb.2.6 Modelling the Streamtube.2.7 Descent.2.8 Wind Tunnel Test Results.2.9 Complete Induced-Velocity Curve.2.10 Summary Remarks on Momentum Theory.2.11 Complexity of Real Wake.2.12 Wake Analysis Methods.2.13 Ground Effect.2.14 Brownout.References.3 Rotor in Vertical Flight: Blade Element Theory.3.1 Basic Method.3.2 Thrust Approximations.3.3 Non-uniform Inflow.3.4 Ideal Twist.3.5 Blade Mean Lift Coefficient.3.6 Power Approximations.3.7 Tip Loss.3.8 Examples of Hover Characteristics.References.4 Rotor Mechanisms for Forward Flight.4.1 The Edgewise Rotor.4.2 Flapping Motion.4.3 Rotor Control.4.4 Equivalence of Flapping and Feathering.References.5 Rotor Aerodynamics in Forward Flight.5.1 Momentum Theory.5.2 Descending Forward Flight.5.3 Wake Analysis.5.4 Blade Element Theory.References.6 Aerodynamic Design.6.1 Introductory.6.2 Blade Section Design.6.3 Blade Tip Shapes.6.4 Tail Rotors.6.5 Parasite Drag.6.6 Rear Fuselage Upsweep.6.7 Higher Harmonic Control.6.8 Aerodynamic Design Process.References.7 Performance.7.1 Introduction.7.2 Hover and Vertical Flight.7.3 Forward Level Flight.7.4 Climb in Forward Flight.7.5 Maximum Level Spread.7.6 Rotor Limits Envelope.7.7 Accurate Performance Prediction.7.8 A World Speed Record.7.9 Speculation on the Really Low-Drag Helicopter.7.10 An Exercise in High-Altitude Operation.7.11 Shipborne Operation.References.8 Trim, Stability and Control.8.1 Trim.8.2 Treatment of Stability and Control.8.3 Static Stability.8.4 Dynamic Stability.8.5 Hingeless Rotor.8.6 Control.8.7 Autostabilization.References.9 A Personal Look at the Future.Appendix: Performance and Mission Calculation.Index.